The weapon every woman can carry could have stopped the Bondi rampage

A young Melbourne mum is calling on the federal government to legalise pepper spray across the country in the wake of the Westfield Bondi Junction tragedy.

Jayde Howard believes the self-defence weapon could have played a key role in stopping or at least slowing down knife killer Joel Cauchi's frenzied rampage.

But currently pepper spray is only legal in Western Australia, which is now seeing a huge surge in sales in the wake of the mass-stabbing attack.

Now Ms Howard's petition for women to be legally permitted to carry pepper spray has already attracted more than 6,000 signatures in support.

'I believe the laws need to change because women deserve to feel safe,' she told Sunrise.

She added: 'As a mother, I believe the Bondi Junction attack was a catalyst for this petition and this campaign.'

Five women and one male security guard died in the ruthless attack after Cauchi appeared to deliberately target women shoppers.

His family later admitted Cauchi was mentally ill and had gone off his medication but had a problem with women because he was too socially awkward to find a girlfriend.

Pepper spray, also known as capsicum spray causes burning, pain, and tears when it comes into contact with a person's eyes

Since the Bondi attack, Ms Howard says she is nervous about going out with her daughter.

'We deserve to go about our daily lives without the fear of being attacked randomly,' she said.

Jeff Rodwell, director of online security company U R Safe says there has been a massive surge in demand for pepper spray since the Bondi attacks, with orders almost quadrupling.

 Mr Rodwell told the ABC, 'I have had a hell lot of calls from over east. They think, "oh, it's legal in Western Australia, why can't we have it?"' he said.  

Ms Howard is very passionate about the security of women, 'I believe the laws need to change because women deserve to feel safe,' she told Sunrise

Since the Bondi attack, Ms Howard says she is nervous about going out with her daughter

Callum Wheately from NSW has also started a petition. The father of three girls writes, 'I fear for their safety and the safety of all women in our community.'

David Limbrick, a Libertarian MP from Victoria, believes women should be allowed to carry pepper spray in order to feel safe.

'The people who were able to protect themselves and others in Bondi were the people who had the tools to do it, while the most vulnerable were targeted,' Mr Limbrick said.

In 2018, Fraser Anning from Katter's Australian Party called on the Federal Government to permit the importation and use of pepper spray to 'allow women to defend themselves.'

Mr Anning's private members bill was voted down.